The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-01-10
EXPRESS ROBBERS IN INDIANA.
Robert A. Pinkerton's "reminiscences of the
Operations Of the Famous Reno Gang.

SAOHo nav pioFCu d pcIkcCL teTFOr W bHo cAPio So
companies in southern Indiana and especially
in the vicinity of Seymour. where the desper-
ADDE'S made their headquarters. They had COM
mitted their train robberies with spirit of dare
deviltry and dash that defied detection. The citi-
zens Of southern Indiana became alarmed at the
wanton robberies committed by the Reno
gang, and steps were taken to annihilate
them. Accordingly, the services OF Allan
Pinkerton were engaged, and he at once deter
mined to get one Of his most trusted operatives
In with the gang To effect this purpose he had
his man open a saloon in Seymour, Ind, and in
the course of very short time the detective be-
came very intimate with the Renos and their
confedsrates. In the summer of 1868 an express
messenger on the Ohio & Mississippi road, en-
Route from ST. Louis to Cincinnati, was robbed
OF a large sum of money By two masked men,
who had entered his car somewhere along the
road in Southern Indiana Two days afterwards
Mr.. Pinkerton learned, through his secret opera
tive at Seymour, Ind. that the men who had
comitted this robbery were Mike Col
iorain and Waiter Hammond. two
OF the young members of the
Reno party, who had worked on the railroad
around Seymour. They accordingly taken
into custody and large portion of the stolen
money recovered. Although it was discovered
soon afterwards that Collorain and Hammond
were robbed of a considerable amount OF the
money they had taken by John Reno and other
ct his colleagues, this money was so secreted
that 1t could not be unearthed but the express
company, through Pinkerton men, ascertained
that John Reno was badly wanted for a safe
burglary in Clinton county, Missouri, where he
had robbed the county treasury, and they deter
mined to punish him on this charge
The Missouri authorities were advised as to
the whereabouts of John Reno, and he was soon
afterward quietly arrested and returned to Mis-
sourt The detectives who arrested him did
:.heir work very neatly. Reno was decoyed
Town o'ths train for the ostensible purpose of
meeting friend in Seymour. Just about the
lime he arrived at the depot the St. Louis train
pulled in on its way west. Reno was spotted to
the detectives, who had alighted from the train,
and at given signal they swoped down on him
and in the course of few seconds dragged him
bodily aboard the train as it was moving from
the depot. He was safely landed in Missouri
and the Adams Express Company paid for
special guard to watch over him until he was
convicted. He was sentenced at last to
Twenty-Five years Imprisonment in the
Missouri pententiary. Many of the
old residents of 81. Louis will recall to mind the
persistent efforts on the part of friends of the
Renos to effect the pardon of John Reno, and
for ten or twelve years all the influence in the
world was brought to bear toward this end, but
to no purpose; the EXPRESS company was too
much for them. However. after serving fifteen
years, Keno succeeded in getting his pardon
through Lieutenant governor Charles P. John
son, who, at the time 1t was granted, was acting
Governor of the State. Mike Collorain and
Walker Hammond were sentenced to five years
each in the Indiana prison. both having pleaded
guilty Colloran, after coming out of prison.
squared" H. and is now we'll TO do and respect
able citizen Of Indiana When Hammond shook
off the sight of the black bars he joined fortunes
with Pete Mccartney the celebrated counter
feiter, and was subsequently, arrested with Pete
at Richmond, Ind, a charge of counterfeit
ing. and sentenced again to long term in the
Indiana penitentiary.
The next robbery of any moment occurred in
the summer Of 1868, on the Ohio & Mississippi
near Seymour, Ind. where the train was board
ed by masked men. The messenger made a des-
perete resistance to protect the money safe in
his Icharge, but he>~was picked up bodily by
-tfte7 tnseses~snrth rCw n hexdong from the car
down a PERCEPTIONS embankment. The robbers
were paid we'll for their pains, as nearly 800 000
in money, bonds and jswery fell into their raw
enous clutches. During all this time Allan
Pinkerton had continued his secret operative in
the saloon business at Seymour, and his place
had become somewhat of a resort for
the. tough element of the town
Through this source of information Mr..
Pinkerton soon learned that this heavy robbery
was perpetrated by the three Reno brothers,
Frank, Sim and Bill, assisted by Charles Ander-
son. noted New York thief who had been re.
dangerous Western crook and Miles Ogle. the
notorious and adrot counterfeiter who for years
led the officers in the Secret Service Depart.
ment such merry chase. Allan ePinkerton
indianapolis Frank Reno and the others fed
to Canada, but were shortly afterwards appre-
hended by the Pinksrtons. and after q long
litigation with the Canadian authorities, they
were delivered up to the Governor of Indiana
Miles Ogle was arrested in Indiana, but the
guard that was placed over him proved to be
lax one. and he succeeded in making his es,
cape, and was not arrested for years afterwards.
While the extradtion proceedings were III
progress in Canada another robbery was at
tempted in the vicinity of Seymour, Ind. by
other members of the Reno gang consisting OF
Frank Sparks, Henry Jerold, John Moore
George Clinton and others. This robbery was
however, anticipated by the express people, and
when the gang attacked the car they were me,
with volley of bullets and thrown into conster
nation, although they returned the guards
fire with will. During the exchange
of shots between the guards on
the cars and the marauders one of the former
named Flanders, had his whole leg shot away
and two of the gang were captured by the guards 8.
The shooting of Flanders worked up the people
OF southern Indiana to such an indignant pitch
that q vigilance committee was at once organ
lied. They succeeded in capturing two of the
mob. and began their good work by hanging
them to the limb of a tree. Frank Reno and
Charles Anderson, when they were given up tt
the Pinkertons by the Canadian authorities, wer,
taken to New Albany. Ind, where Sim and Bill
had been placed in jail.
few nights after their return to New All
bany the Jail was stormed by the vicilantes
VINO beat down the heavy iron doors and over
powered the jailer The widest excitement en-
sued, and threats were made to burn the JAIL bu
before any of these could be carried out the three
Renos were dragged from their cells, together
with Charles Anderson and all four hanged in tn,
corridors of the JAIL The vicilantes succeeded il
making their escape from the Jail before an,
identification could be got of them. Mike Rogers
the remaining member of the gang. remained r
Cana1p for long time; but at last, thlnkins
the whole matter had blown over he venturet
Into the United States where he was captured
by the Pinkertons in Illinois for a safe burglar,
and sent to Joliet for number of years. Afte
coming out OF the penitentiary be joined a gan!
of counterfeiiers, and was arrested with Pet
Mccartney, in ST. Louis. He, however! mad
his escape with Mccartney at the time Of tn
memorable Jail delivery in ST. Louis. Roger
soon afterward fed to Texas where all trace O
him was lost Miles Oele was eventually capt
ured at Pittsburg, and convicted for counterfeit
ing. Upon being liberated he commenced hi
old business again, and was finally turned up a
Eiemphis Tenn. where he was sentenced To tn